Proportional flow mechanism



July 4, 1939. D. .1. PURDIE PROPORTIONAL FLOW MECHANISM Filed Feb. 26, 1956 a Sheets-Sheet 1 Jill 4, 1939.1 D PURDIE 2,165,153

PROPORTIORAL FLOW MECHANISM Filed Feb. 26, 1936 v 3 Sheets-Sheet- 2 I In July 4, 1939. D. J. PURDIE" 2,165,153

PROPORTIONAL FLOW MBCHANISI Filed Feb. 26, 1936 s sheets-sheet sfum'rsovs'l' A-lEs PATEN OFFICE i .rnoronnons n I v David J. Pnrdie, Verona, assignmol onetornllasa, corporation one-lull to rroportioneers, kLaeorporationofBhodeIsland- Application 20, loss, Serial No. 05:19a-

. 4, (Cl. 210-17) The invention relates to mechanism by which 5.

flow of'a fluid is caused to produce a flow of another fluid or fluent material in at least a some- .what proportional-manner, and has for an object 5 to provide tor a regulated flow of the other fluid or fluent material in situations where the mechanism by'wh c such regulated flow is normally produced or regulated in response'to'the flow of the first fluid, is-at times either inoperative or (I not wholly effective as by reason of conditions of the first flow to which it may not satisfactorily respond. For example, a 'l'neter may be emlarly designed for volumetric measuring during 5 large flows will ordinarily not function satis- V factorily to measure during small flows and a meter capable of measuring during small flows with suill'cient accuracy may .be ot -much too small capacity to measure during large flows. 0 According to this invention, therefore the means for producing the second-mentioned flowis actuated or controlled by any one or more of a plurality of meanaeach of which is best adapted to respond to somehow or range of flows of 5 .the primary fluid. Ordinarily but two such means will be "found necessary,.but more might be used it found deslrable'in any particular case.

An important commercial example 01'- a situation where this invention is of particular utility isround in m for applying chemical treatment to water, the chemical being the ma terial of the secondary or controlled flow, and being introduced into the main or controll i; flow. A usual chemical treatment for water is chlorination, this being employed 'to render p0- table water which otherwise mightnot be safe to drink; The chlorinaf ng liquid is introduced in small amounts into the water supply, the rate of such introduction determined by allow l0 responsive motor, as,-for example, a meter-by which the volume or water is measured. Often a meter'which is suitable for measuring during V the normal day time now of water when the demand is relatively-large will not be operated by the relatively small nightilowrandshould the introduction or chlorine be determined entirely by the flow o1 waterthrough such a meter, there would result a dangerous. condition wherein in the morning. before or at the resumption of the 0 larger daylight flow the pipes would be filled with entirely untreated water due to the failure of the meter to be operated during'the night while the how was small. Another condition would arlsewhen-at times it the demand for water is greatly increased over the control of a pump mechanism which maybe employed and which is shown in Figures 1 and 2.

4 v ing a modification.

usual conditions, as, for example, where the sup.- ply is drawn upon tofflght ilre. In such a situation a meter satisfactory" for measuring the normal supply would be too small to register the.

large demand. This largedemand volume would 5 a need to be measured, at" least partly, by a large meter which might be entirely out of service during long periods, of time; For such service it is usual practice 'to provide-what is-knowl as a compound type meter containing a pair of m metering units, one for measuring during normal relatively small rates of ilow, and the other orployed as such mechanism, but a meter particuboth together registering during the large rates 0! flow. -If a separate chlorinator be employed ior eachmetering' unit, not only would this require one chlorinator which might be idle for very long periods, thus adding to the cost of the installation the cost of this additional equipment. but'the chlorinating liquid, being of a corrosive nature, would be. likely to so attack or clog the. mechanism of the normally idle chlorinator that whenever it might be called upon to function, it would not he in condition to do so. l In accordance with the-present invention but' a single chlorinator would be required actuated by one or the other or by'both of the meter units, thus avoiding the expense of one or more additional such mechanisms, and this single would bein operation substantially continuously so that it would not have an opportunity to deteriorate 'or become clogged because 1 of long idle vation, respectively. 1 a mechanism embodying "this invention.

Figure sis a perspective view partly broken away andinsection of a portion of the mechanism shown in Figures. 1.and.2. j

Figure 4 is a detail section on line H-of Fig- .ure 1.

Figure 5-is a detail section .on line 5-5 or Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a side elevation partly broken away showing a modification.

Figure 7 is a detail partly in section showing Figure 8 is an-e'levation partly broken away and in section on line H of Figure 6.

Figure 9 ls'a view similar to Figure 8, butshow ftelerring first to Fisures 1,2 and 3,.tllere is F to read the registering mechanism beneath the cap liasweliinordertoreadtheamountpassed represented a meter of the compound type and known commercially as a fire service meter to which the subject matter of this invention. has been applied. Referring to these figures, at .l is indicated a conduit for liquid which maybe interposed in a pipeline, being attached at one end to the in-ij'iow pipe 2 and at the other end to the out-flow pipe 3. The conduit l isshown as provided with an enlarged portion 4 provided with a suitable cover 5 and within which is positioned a valve mechanism 6. This mechanism 8 is provided with-a seat element 1 which at the time of relatively small flow engages a mating annular seat I arranged in the lineof flow, so that the flow takes place through the by-pass ineluding the pipes Ill and II and the meterv 12. At timeso'f large flow, however, the valve mechanism 6 will be lifted by inereaseof pressure of the V liquid thereagainst and decrease of pressure back of it, whereupon the fluid may pass freely through the annular seat member 8. The conduit I also is provided with a meter- I! having a casing formed as an extension from the conduit i, as shown. this being a disk meter with its measuring unit II arranged in a by-pass around the constricting ring or orifice Ii in the conduit. The flow through the by-pass comprising the pipes II, II and meter II is controlled as'bythe control valve II and the check valve 2|, which permit the indicated generally at a.

repair or removal of the meter l2 without shutting oif flow through the main line. The meter I! may be of any suitable type such as the well known disk meter. The mechanism just described is a well known type of "lire service meter", small volumes being measured entirely by the meter l2} and large volumes being measured primarily by the proportional meter It, but to some extent also by the small meter l2.

Each of the individual meters is provided with its own registering mechanism, the meter ll having its registering meehanism within the cap 25 and the meter I! having its registering mechanism within the cap 26. The reading of the registering mechanism within the cap I will show the amount passed during normal relatively low flows through the conduit I, but it is necessary At (Flgureslandz) isindicatedatankfor' containing the chemicals for the controlled flow which, in the mechanism shown, are to be supplied to the water measured by the fire service meter. Promthis tank an intake pipe ll leads to the intake of the pumping end 12 of a,- doser pump I The discharge from this pump end passes through the pipe 34 and'is connectedintothemainlinelasthroughtheT -iltting 35. This doser pump may be Operated by any suitable power-means and .at a rate deter- 'mined by the actuation of either'or both of the it isactuatedby a fluid pressuremotor of the metering units of the flre service meter. As shown diaphragm type ll, which may take-its supply fluid under pressure through the lines II and 42 and the controlling valve 43 from the conduit I inadvaneeofthe-meteringunit ll. Adischarge pipe for this motor II is shown at".

certaindetailsofthismotorllareshownin -l"lgure-7. .The alternates'upply and discharge of nuidthroughtheports'lIandiQi'rominietIl and to outlets iflpnopposlte sides of the dia-. phragm I is. controlledby meansof a suitable valve Iii havinga 82 bywhichitmay means I e A be operated. The diaphragm Sli isconnected to the piston rod 56 which also forms=the piston of the pump portion 32. The discharge'from the motor ll may be passed to waste or any other suitable disposition may .be made of it. The valve Si is moved back and forth to determine the speed of operation of the pump 32 by suitactuating shaft is mounted for rotation within a casing 66 attached to the frame of the pump mechanism 32 and it may be coupled at its lower end 560 with a shaft '61 carrying a bevel gear SI. Meshing with this bevel gear 68 are two bevel gears 69 and Ill, respectively. These gears 69, and III are fixed to rotary shafts II and 12,

respectively, with which are alined shafts l3 and' IL-the shafts Ii and i3 and I2 and 14 being connected together, respectively, by any suitable form of overrunning clutch 15., A suitable form of clutch shown in section in Figure 5, comprises a central disk 16 and a sleeve portion ll journaled-on the periphery of the disk I6. Thisdisk I6 is shown as provided with one or more recesses "in its periphery within which may ride ball clutch elements I! backed up by springs ill, these springs acting to press the balls outwardly against the inner face of the sleeve 11 so as to wedge against the inner face of this sleeve when the sleeve and disk are driven relatively in one di-- rection to lock them together but to permit free relative rotation of these parts in the otherdi rect'ion. Thus, if either one of the shafts 13 or .14 is driven faster than the other, the faster driven shaft will drive its bevel gear 69 or it,

8 or II isdriven idly from;the gear 68. The

from the faster rotating of the shafts 13 or 14 while the shaft 13 or ll, runningat thelower rate, is ineifective either todrive or to prevent the driving of this valve mechanism.

The meter II has its register driving shaft shown at ll in Figure 4 and the meter I! has a register drivingshaft ll. have secured thereto bevel gears I2 and 83, re-

and Cl, respectively. The bevel gear II is fixed on the inner end of a shaft 86 which is connected as through a flexible shaft "with shaft 13, while the gear Ii flxedon the inner end of a shaft ll is connected as by a similar flexible shaft ll with the shaft "II. Thus whichever of the flexible shafts is rotated the faster at any time, that shaft only is eii'ective to drive the shaft 65 and to control the rate of actuation of the motor '4! and thus the rate of flow of the treatingliquid from the tank II into the pipe line 3. 1

- During relatively low flows in the conduit 1 thevalve mechanism Sisclosed and the entire meterlngistakencareofthroughthemeteril,

being by the mechanism'within the hood It. At times of greatly increased flow, as

These driving shafts.

valve mechanism of the pump 32 is then-actuated spectively, with which mesh the bevel gears.

m as the actuation of the pump control is ooncerned. each of the metering units thus acts as a m tor and that inotor which drives the gear ll at the. faster rate at anyone time is eifective in controlling the rate of drive ofthe pump 32. motors, however, function as meters and it is essential that they be operated under very light'load in order that they shall register correctly lor this reason it is desirable that they be emplo ed not to furnish the power to drive the pump 82, hut-only to control the .rate at which the power-supplied from another source, as from the'rno unit II, is used. Thus there is only aslight additional load on the meters over that whihis normally imposed'by the registering mechanisms which are driven by the rotating meterelements.

6 and 8 another embodiment of this invention is prising a proportional type meter which is employedfor measuring during the ordinary-norrnal:" iiow of water, together with an auxiliary motor-which may, if desired,,be a meter employed operate the chlorinating apparatus during periods of such low flow that the proportional meter :would. not be in operation.

m in,-. stallation, for example, might be empl ed where the:proprti0nal meter is employed to register during the normal day time flow of water, while the separate motor might be brought into actuation to operate the chlorinator at. a low rate during the night when the normaliiow would be insuiiicient to actuate the proportional meter,;

but where the flow would be sufficient so that were the chlorinator not in actuation during the night, there would result the passage of untreated water. This would resultin a dangerous condition, since the pipes would be carrying wholly untreated water for a time in the morning.

Referring to these figures, at I00 is indicated theT'conduit of the proportional meter interposed in theme-in pipe line, thisconduit being provided with thensual restriction or orlilce Ill by which a portion, of the water is normally diverted through-the bY-pass I02 within which is positioneda-meter I03. This meter may be of any suitable type, and, as shown in Figure 8, may

actuate a; shaft .ill connected through an over-g runnIng-"cmtchmuch as the ratchet clutch shown at ll.5,.- With a shaft "6. Theshaft I hasflxed thereto a ,bevel gear I" which meshes with a similarigear III on a shaft "59, this shaft actuating the registering mechanism contained with- ,in theingister casing 0. At III is shown a meter. of any type-suitable for measuring during comparatively low flows, this being connected to the lay-pass III: through the pipe lli shown as provided with a control valve I IS. The discharge from the meter III is shown at 1 and it may lead to waste, if desired. This meter III is provided-with a register drive shaft I20 on'which is fixed a bevel gear III which meshes with a bevel gear I21 on a shaft I23. This shaft I2! is connected as throhgha flexible shaft III with a shaft. I25 positioned above the register casing Ill, and this shaft I25is connected through any suitable over-running clutch mechanism if to a shaft I21 carrying-a bevel gear III. This gear meshes with a gear if! on the shaft ill. Thus.

illustrated, this embodiment comthe meter Ill..may be shaft I slowsdown or stops and the meter ii-i is being driven. the shaft .iI-I takes up the drive and rotates the shaft III. This shaft I is the valvedriving shaft for the pump "shown in outline in Figure 8 by which the chlorine feedis controlled. Thus when the normal daylight flow, which is sufficient to actuate the lay-pass meter -a predetermined point, and where the meter III is exhausted to waste, it is driven constantly so long as the valve H is open. Thus the chiorinator is actuated. at aslow rate even though the meter Ill-fails to operate, and whenever the flow through the main rises to a point where the "meter m scmstc' function at a predetermined rate, this meter takes upon itself the drive of the chlorinator feed valve, whereupon the meterlll becomes inoperative to do so, even though it continues to run as long as the valve lit re-v mains open. The amount of water passed through indicated by a suitable register mechanism (not shown) located within the register casing I39.

Since the-function of the meter Hi when it is discharged to waste is. that of a motor to keep the chlorinator mechanism in operation, any other suitable type of motor may be employed in place of it as may be found more convenient.

For example. in Figure 9, the place of the meter .i ii istaken by a smallelectric motor which may be of the type commonly employed for actuating clocks. It is shown'at I and is caused to drive-- a shaft I35 through an over-running clutch mechanism at I 3.1. -The shaft I35 carries a bevel gear I38 which meshes with a gear I39 onthe chlorinator valve control shaft I915. Thus, whenever themeter I03 is operating at a speed below I a predetermined or is not operating, the control of the chiorinator is provided by the motor l35, while as soon as the meter "3 resumes its predetermined rate,'it takes charge of and controls the rate of operation of the chlorinator and the do so.

From theforegoing description of motor becomes ineifective to certain emto those skilled in the art that various changes and"modiilcations might be made without d e.- partingfrom the spirit or scope of this invention as defined by the appended claims. a I claim: I i. The combination with a system comprising a fluid conduit, a pair of meters for-measuring flow throu h ,said'conduit, one of said meters being responsive during small rates of flow and the other of said meters being responsive during large rates of flow, .of flow-producing mechanism, means .for actuating said mechanism, -a shaft for controlling said mechanism, and controlling connections-from said meters to said shaft including over-running clutches, whereby only that meter effective to cause said shaft to be. driven at the higher rate will hem-controlling relation to said mechanism at any time.

2. The combination with a fluid conduit havbodiments of this invention, it should be evident 1 ing a.meter for'registering'flow through said conduit, or a flow-producing means, a motor, and connections from both said meter and said motor for controlling said flow-producing means.

said connections including automatically acting it selective mechanism causing the actuation of said flow-producing means to be controlled by at least either said meter or said motor.

3. In combination, a liquid conduit, means actuated by liquid pressure from said conduit for feeding material into the liquid in said conduit, a pair of motors, at least one of which motors is in driven relation to liquid flow in said conduit, means for controlling the actuation of said feeding means,- and driving means actuated by each of said motors, and including means for causing that driving means which is moving at the faster rate at any given time to actuate said controlling means unaflected by the other driving means.

4 In combination. a liquid eqnduit, a motor driven by liquid flow in said conduit, said conduit including a by-pass around said motor. a second motor the speed of which is controlled by flow of liquid through said by-pass, means actuated by liquid pressure in said conduit for feeding fluent material into liquid flowed through said conduit, and means actuated by one or the other of said motors, depending on their relative speeds, for controlling said feeding means.

DAVID .J. PURDIE.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,165,155. July 11,, 1939.

DAVID J. mom.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed epeciticatiop o! the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page}, sec- 0nd. column, 11ne72, claim 2, for the Word 'or' read of; end-that the said LetterePatent [should be read with thie correction thereizi th'et'theam my conform to the record of the case. in the Patent Office.

fflgned and sealed this l5thday 01' August, A. D. 1939;

Leslie Frazer (Se-a1) Acting Comieeioner pt Patente- 

